I NEED HELP IDENTIFYING THIS ARROWHEAD I PURCHASED 20 YEARS AGO

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THIS IS THE LARGEST AND AND ARROW I HAVE EVER FOUND OR SEEN. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT CAN SOMEONE HELP ME IDENTIFY IT?

 

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[Red-Coat]

Welcome to the forum.

For sure it's not an arrowhead at that size! I don't think it's a spear-point either. If authentic (and that's a big if) it's a hafted knife but will be really difficult to type without some indication of where it was claimed to have been found... assuming that was even America. It's not possible to tell from your pictures whether it has any particular flaking pattern, what lithic it's made from, or whether it has any patination/mineralisation that suggests it has any real age to it.

I'm more inclined to think it's a modern fantasy 'replica' of the kind that has been sold to the unwary since the 1940s or thereabouts. Better pictures might prove me wrong.

[Addition: or hoe/digging pick perhaps, but not 'axe' I think]

 

[unclemac]

tell us how you acquired it

 

[Older The Better]

I agree that shape at that size is suspicious, if it is authentic my best guess would be an axe but hafting something that size seems unrealistic

 

[jewelerguy]

that thing is gigantic. must have been hunting dinosaurs

 

[smokeythecat]

I think the arrowhead premise is wrong. Looks more like a hafted ax, especially for splitting wood.

 

[Plug N Play]

A little "bird point"



Seriously, not an arrowhead. It would take a ten foot shaft and a bow that even Odysseus couldn't string.
I've seen these chunked out rocks at a few events. They're made just for fun.
Have a half made one in the yard I haven't finished, as we speak.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Even spear points are typically under 3" wide. That would be a real he-man toss to get that into the vitals of an animal.

Possibly an axe head - but not really shaped like most (they typically have a chisel/wide edge.

Maybe it hung outside the village flint-knapper's hogan?

 

[vpnavy]

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Projectile Points Arrowhead Identification Guide

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Official Overstreet Indian Arrowhead Identification Online Database

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[tommy67]

I’m gonna say could be a leaf knife made of rhyolite? It doesn’t quite fit neatly into mansion inn, unless it was a much larger boats style blade. I think it is rather think for mansion inn. Regardless cool find!

 

[dognose]

interesting item.

you indicate you found this, where did you find this item?

Where was this found and how?

it does not appear to be flaked as an Indian relic would be, could you take some larger clearer images please?

I agree with those that indicate its more likely a fantasy item.

 

[[email protected]]

I PURCHASED FROM AN INSURANCE AGENT THAT WAS CLOSING DOWN. SHE HAD IT IN A CASE IN THE OFFICE FOR YEARS AND WOULDNT SELL IT TO ME. ONE DAY SHE CALLED AND WAS WILLING TO SELL IT. I FOUND IT INTERESTING AND I ALWAYS HAD LIKED IT SO I PURCHASED IT.

 

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I THOUGHT IT WAS CEREMONIAL OR SOMETHING.

 

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[Red-Coat]

What we really needed was better (closer) pictures, not just more pictures.

Nevertheless, that looks to be about the worst piece of randomly-flaked handiwork I've seen for a long time. I'm sure it's the work of a modern amateur knapper (with emphasis on the word 'amateur').

Pafticularly evident on the second, fourth and fifth pictures is an unhealthy-looking difference in patination between the knapped and unknapped areas, with the knapped areas looking very fresh.

[PS: Why did you just post it again in the 'Help' section? That's intended for people needing help with how the forum works.]

 

[[email protected]]

I AM SORRY I AM NEW HERE JUST JOINED YESTERDAY AND DIDN'T REALIZE I AM 79 YEARS OLD AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO ANYTHING WRONG AND WAS JUST WAS LOOKING FOR HELP.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I AM SORRY I AM NEW HERE JUST JOINED YESTERDAY AND DIDN'T REALIZE I AM 79 YEARS OLD AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO ANYTHING WRONG AND WAS JUST WAS LOOKING FOR HELP.

Don you have done nothing wrong and broke no rules! You are very welcome here, please dont be offended.

 

[Red-Coat]

I AM SORRY I AM NEW HERE JUST JOINED YESTERDAY AND DIDN'T REALIZE I AM 79 YEARS OLD AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO ANYTHING WRONG AND WAS JUST WAS LOOKING FOR HELP.

My apologies (your apology not needed).

Running the same question in two places usually results in confusion because not everyone is then part of the same 'conversation'. It's also sometimes the case that people make multiple posts when they don't like the answers they're getting at the first try. Didn't mean to suggest that's what you were doing.

 

[[email protected]]

ITS OKAY I UNDERSTAND NOW

 

[Plug N Play]

Nevertheless, that looks to be about the worst piece of randomly-flaked handiwork I've seen for a long time. I'm sure it's the work of a modern amateur knapper (with emphasis on the word 'amateur').

Pafticularly evident on the second, fourth and fifth pictures is an unhealthy-looking difference in patination between the knapped and unknapped areas, with the knapped areas looking very fresh.

LOL ... it's not so much the knapper's ability. It's the fact than these are not made from "knappable" stone. These stones break in more of a "chunky" fashion and not in the ordinary conchoidal fracture. It takes powerful blows to do this, and the stone will often break in half, instead.

Agree that the patination is off on the "newer" flakes. The problem is that these would normally be made in an area where these flat rocks would be common. Hit them hard ... break a few ... pick up another. They always have the old, original look on most of the surface because they were flat to begin with. Almost impossible to determine the age because they would all have a "new flake" look compared to the ancient stone patination.

Again, I've seen these at events across the country. Made to attract a buyer's eye. Kind of a "That's not an arrowhead ... THIS is an arrowhead" thing.

Can't eliminate the possibility that it might be ancient, but ... extremely (very extremely) likely it is a fantasy piece.